US pitches arms sales at Asia's biggest air show

Visitors take a photo with an F-35B fighter jet parked at the static display area during the Singapore Airshow Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, in Singapore. (AP Photo/Yong Teck Lim)

A visitor poses for a selfie with the F-35B fighter jets in the background during the Singapore Airshow on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, in Singapore. (AP Photo/Yong Teck Lim)

U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Tina Kaidanow speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at the Boeing booth during the Singapore Airshow on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, in Singapore. (AP Photo/Yong Teck Lim)

A visitor takes a photo of an F-35B fighter jet parked at the static display area during the Singapore Airshow on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, in Singapore. (AP Photo/Yong Teck Lim)

Republic of Singapore Air Force staff are silhouetted as they stand atop an F-15SG fighter jet during the Singapore Airshow on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, in Singapore. (AP Photo/Yong Teck Lim)

Visitors pose for a group photo with the tiger-painted nose of an Embraer E-190 E2 commercial jet parked at the static display area during the Singapore Airshow Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, in Singapore. (AP Photo/Yong Teck Lim)

Visitors pose for a group photo with the tiger-painted nose of an Embraer E-190 E2 commercial jet parked at the static display area during the Singapore Airshow Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, in Singapore. (AP Photo/Yong Teck Lim)

SINGAPORE — The top U.S. diplomat overseeing arms sales said Wednesday she sees keen interest in American weaponry in Asia, where China's military footprint and political influence are surging.

Ambassador Tina Kaidanow was part of a large U.S. delegation to the Singapore Airshow, the largest in the region, and urging Southeast Asian governments to purchase U.S.-made arms like the F-35 fighter jet.

Two F-35B fighter jets, belonging to the U.S. Marine Corps and made by Lockheed Martin, made their debut Tuesday at the air show. The jets can take off from a short runway and land vertically.

"It's been great, really great. A lot of interest in the region and in doing business here," Kaidanow told The Associated Press.

"We've seen a number of companies, small and large, and I want to encourage them both," she said.

Apart from supporting American jobs, the U.S. intends to help its regional partners beef up their security, she said.

The Trump administration in December outlined a new security strategy that emphasizes countering China's rise and reinforcing the U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific region, where Beijing and Washington accused each other of stoking a dangerous military buildup.

More than 170 American companies were exhibiting at the Singapore show, using close to a third of the exhibition space according to a release from the U.S. Embassy. The show features over a 1,000 participating companies from 48 countries.

Among U.S weaponry on display were F-16C fighter jets, the U.S. Navy's P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and an F/A-18 Super Hornet, a fighter aircraft made by Boeing.

Steve Over, who leads the international sales team at Lockheed for F-35s, said the U.S., Israel, Japan and South Korea militaries have invested $60 billion in the fifth-generation jet, which has an advanced sensor suite and the ability to sneak up on enemies without being detected.

"He has the skin of stealth so no one can see him, and yet he sees everything that is in the battle space. We network these airplanes together so they communicate with each other at very high bandwidth, much like high bandwidth internet in your home," Over explained.

The Singapore show's commercial dealings period ends Friday. Then, it will open to the public.

Analysts said that large aircraft orders are unlikely, given the current backlogs of leading manufacturers.

Airbus has a backlog of over 2,000 planes in the Asia-Pacific region alone. Chicago-based Boeing Co. has a total backlog of 5,864 planes.

"The combination of large orders already placed by Asian airlines in recent years, combined with large order backlogs mean that Asia-Pacific airlines wishing to place new orders face long waiting times for new deliveries," said Rajiv Biswas, the Asia-Pacific Chief Economist at IHS Markit.

Washington has been wooing countries like Vietnam, a former foe, with arms sales and transfers at a time when China has reinforced its territorial claims in the South China Sea with extensive construction projects on man-made islands.

Kaidanow said earlier she planned to meet with officials from Japan, Canada and several Southeast Asian countries to discuss arms purchases at the trade show. Southeast Asian countries should consider purchasing U.S. arms "not just as a matter of security but also regional balance," she said.

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This story has been corrected to show that Kaidanow was part of the U.S. delegation, but not its leader.